Finesse vs. force: How cats and dogs drink A dog
smashes the end of its tongue against the water, causing a portion of
the liquid to separate from the rest, which the dog then catches before
it has a chance to fall back to the bowl

Medical marijuana tied to spike in dog poisonings The growing prominence of medical marijuana has triggered an increase in the number of dogs who get sick after ingesting pot products, which they often find in the trash. The Pet Poison Helpline recorded a 200% increase in such poisonings since 2008. Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the active ingredient in marijuana. THC affects dogs differently than humans, and although not usually fatal, THC poisoning requires medical treatment that can include induced vomiting, intravenous fluids or activated charcoal.

Many dog owners have their pets spayed or neutered to help control the pet population, but new research from the University of Georgia suggests the procedures couldlengthen pet livesand alter the risk of specific causes of death. The researchers found that sterilized dogs lived about 1.5 years longer than intact dogs. They also found that the causes of death differed between those dogs that were sterilized and those that were not. The findings are valuable not only for learning about dogs, but also for studying reproductive effects in humans, researchers say.

High-protein diet alters bacterial flora in kittens, study findsKittens
fed a high-protein diet have lower levels of two beneficial intestinal
bacteria, bifidobacterium and lactobacillus, than kittens fed a diet
containing balanced amounts of protein and carbohydrates, according to a
recent study. A lack of bifidobacterium has been associated with
irritable bowel syndrome in people, and lactobacillus may be involved in
cholesterol and appetite levels. The findings may help humans because
intestinal bacterial populations are similar in humans and cats.

DO NOT DISPOSE OF UNUSED MEDICATION IN THE TOILET OR DRAIN. We will be happy to have our medical waste disposal service incinerate your unused medications. Just drop unused medication off at our hospital. There is no charge for this service.

Obesity makes dogs susceptible to serious health conditionsObese
dogs have a greater risk of developing serious health issues such as
diabetes, heart ailments and arthritis, according to this article. To
ward off obesity-related health problems in pets, the American Kennel
Club recommends consulting with a veterinarian, switching a dog's diet
to low-calorie foods and keeping dogs in shape through regular exercise.